This partially randomized phase I/II trial studies the side effects and the best dose of vorinostat when given together with combination chemotherapy and rituximab to see how well it works compared to combination chemotherapy alone in treating patients with human immunodeficiency virus-related diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma or other aggressive B-cell lymphomas. Vorinostat may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Drugs used in chemotherapy work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Monoclonal antibodies, such as rituximab, may interfere with the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. Giving vorinostat together with combination chemotherapy and rituximab may kill more cancer cells.

Toxicity data will be presented by severity for each dose group. The incidence of toxicity related dose reductions and treatment discontinuations will be summarized for each dose group. If there are a sufficient number of patients in each dose group, chi square analyses will be used to compare dose groups with respect to the incidence of specific toxicities.

Evaluated using analyses of variance. For each dose group and for all groups combined, the Wilcoxon signed rank test will be used to evaluate the changes in HIV viral load and CD4 count. If there is sufficient number of patients in each dose group, the Kruskal-Wallis test will be used to compare dose groups with respect to changes in HIV viral load and CD4 count.

Evaluated using analyses of variance. For each dose group and for all groups combined, the Wilcoxon signed rank test will be used to evaluate the changes in HIV viral load and CD4 count. If there is sufficient number of patients in each dose group, the Kruskal-Wallis test will be used to compare dose groups with respect to changes in HIV viral load and CD4 count.

Pharmacokinetic profile and the parameters of clearance and the AUC (area under the curve) (Phase I) [ Time Frame: Up to 12 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Summary statistics will be used to describe pharmacokinetic results by dose level. Comparisons across dose levels will be made to assess proportionality or variability of the different parameters.

Tumor response rate (Phase I) [ Time Frame: Up to 5 years ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

The tumor response rate will be estimated for each dose group and for all groups combined. The 95% confidence intervals will be constructed for tumor response rates.

Patients receive vorinostat PO QD on days 1-5; rituximab IV on day 1; etoposide IV over 24 hours, doxorubicin hydrochloride IV over 24 hours, and vincristine sulfate IV over 24 hours on days 1-4; prednisone PO daily on days 1-5; and cyclophosphamide IV over 1 hour on day 1. Treatment repeats every 21 days for 6 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Other aggressive non-DLBCL non-Burkitt non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma variants as defined by the 2008 World Health Organization (WHO) classification, including rare CD20 negative B-cell lymphomas (i.e. plasmablastic lymphoma, and primary effusion lymphoma) are also eligible; grade 3B follicular lymphoma is also eligible as long as one the above risk criteria is met

Participants who are untreated or who received a maximum of one (1) cycle of combination chemotherapy, including rituximab-containing regimens, prior are eligible; the start of previous chemotherapy cycle must occur at least 21 days prior to beginning treatment under this protocol, and such cycle will count towards the total maximum of 6 cycles under this study

Measurable or non-measurable tumor parameter(s); non-measurable tumor parameters are defined as not having bidimensional measurements (e.g., gastric or marrow involvement), but can be followed for response by other diagnostic tests such as gallium, positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, and/or bone marrow biopsy

Total bilirubin =< 1.5 institutional upper limit of normal (ULN), unless elevated secondary to lymphomatous involvement of liver or biliary system, or due to other HIV medications (e.g., indinavir, tenofovir, or atazanavir); for direct bilirubin > 1.2 due to hepatic involvement by tumor for the initial dose of EPOCH drug adjustment

Negative for hepatitis B, or if infected with hepatitis B, receiving anti-hepatitis B therapy; all participants will be required to be screened for hepatitis B and C; per Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) and American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASD) guidelines, those participants that show no immunity, defined by the lack of hepatitis B surface antibody, and show evidence of chronic infection (i.e. hepatitis B surface antigen positive [HBsAg+], hepatitis B core antibody positive [HBcore+], hepatitis surface antibody negative [HBsAB-]) will be required to be on anti-hepatitis B therapy, during the study, in order to be eligible; participants will be permitted to enroll in the study provided liver function tests meet criteria, and there is no evidence of cirrhosis; the exact hepatitis B therapy will be at the discretion of the infection disease specialist or investigator; however all participants who present with acute hepatitis B or show normal transaminases and are HBsAg+ and immunoglobulin (Ig)M+ for hepatitis core antigen will not be eligible for trial enrollment; participants who are hepatitis C antibody positive, with or without a positive hepatitis C RNA level, will be permitted to enroll in the study provided liver function tests meet criteria, and have no evidence of cirrhosis; participants diagnosed with hepatitis C less than 6 months from trial enrollment, will be considered to have acute hepatitis C and will be excluded from study unless hepatitis (hep) C viral load is undetectable

Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) that is at or above the lower institutional limits of normal, as assessed by multiple gated acquisition (MUGA) scan or echocardiogram within the 6 weeks prior to registration

Concurrent radiation, with or without steroids, or steroids alone for emergency conditions secondary to lymphoma (i.e. cord compression, etc.) will be permitted

Female participants must have a negative pregnancy test within 7 days of entering into the study; both men and women of child bearing potential must agree to use adequate methods of contraception for the duration of the treatment; women must avoid pregnancy, and men must avoid fathering children while in the study and for 6 months following the last study drug treatment

Participants on an antiretroviral regimen should be receiving treatment that is in accordance with the current International acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) Society guidelines; the specific agents are at the discretion of the investigator and use of agents currently available on an expanded access basis is allowed but use of experimental antiretroviral agents or those containing zidovudine (including Combivir and Trizivir) are prohibited; changes to highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) therapy may be made if medically necessary (toxicity, failure of regimen, etc.); antiretroviral naïve participants: participants who are not on HAART at study entry MUST begin therapy (utilizing the above guidelines) AFTER one cycle of chemotherapy has been completed under protocol; changes to HAART therapy may be made if medically necessary (toxicity, failure of regimen, etc.); concurrent therapy with zidovudine or a zidovudine-containing regimen (including Combivir and Trizivir) will be prohibited until 2 months following the participant's completion of chemotherapy as part of this protocol; the use of cobicistat (e.g., Tybost), or cobicistat containing single tablet regimens (e.g., Stribild) is prohibited during concurrent chemotherapy under this protocol; participants taking cobicistat or cobicistat-containing single table regimens must switch to a different agent or regimen prior to enrollment, and will remain on the regimen until at least 2 months following treatment discontinuation; Cobicistat is a pure and potent cytochrome P450, family 3, subfamily A, polypeptide 4 (CYP3A4) inhibitor and has the potential to increase the area under the curve (AUC) of CYP3A4 substrates; therefore, both vincristine and doxorubicin would have the potential for drug drug interaction (DDI) with cobicistat since they are CYP3A4 substrates

Participants already receiving erythropoietin or colony-stimulating factor therapy are eligible for participation, although the latter must be discontinued at least 24 hours prior to receiving chemotherapy

Participants must be able to swallow oral medications

Exclusion Criteria:

Participants who have received more than one (1) prior cycle of chemotherapy similar to cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin hydrochloride, vincristine sulfate, and prednisone (CHOP) or EPOCH with or without rituximab

Absolute CD4 count of < 50 cells/ mm^3

Presence of second active tumor, other than non-melanoma skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) that requires systemic therapy

Central nervous system (CNS) involvement by lymphoma including parenchymal brain or spinal cord lymphoma or known presence of leptomeningeal disease prior to registration

Participants with viral hepatitis who do not meet the criteria will not be eligible; all participants who present with acute hepatitis B including those with normal transaminases who are HBsAg+ and IgM + for hepatitis core antigen will not be eligible; participants who are hepatitis B core antibody positive are eligible only if they start or are on prophylactic therapy; a hepatitis B viral load should be confirmed negative on all participants who are hepatitis B core antibody positive; participants refusing to take any anti-hepatitis B therapy during study will also be excluded; participants diagnosed with hepatitis C are eligible if they meet criteria

Unable to comply with the requirements of the protocol, or unable to provide adequate informed consent in the opinion of the principal investigator

Serious, ongoing, non-malignant disease or infection, which in the opinion of the investigator and/or the sponsor would compromise other protocol objectives; participants with active opportunistic infections are ineligible

Major surgery, other than diagnostic surgery, occurring 4 weeks prior to study entry; splenectomy will not be considered an exclusionary major surgery

Rituximab therapy within the 12 months prior to study entry; participants treated with rituximab within 12 months prior to study registration are eligible only if it was given for indications other than the treatment of aggressive lymphoma

Prior cytotoxic chemotherapy or radiotherapy for this lymphoma

History of cutaneous or mucocutaneous reactions, or diseases in the past, due to any cause, severe enough to cause hospitalization or an inability to eat or drink for > 2 days; this exclusion relates to the long-term possibility of severe cutaneous or mucocutaneous reactions to rituximab that might occur at increased frequency in participants who have had severe skin disease or reactions in the past

Use of zidovudine or cobicistat as part of the HAART regimen (a drug substitution at the time of study entry is allowed)

Any acute, inter-current infection that may interfere with planned protocol treatment; participants with mycobacterium avium will not be excluded from study entry; chronic therapy with potentially myelosuppressive agents is allowed provided that entry hematologic criteria are met

Participants should not have taken valproic acid or another histone deacetylase inhibitor for at least 2 weeks prior to study enrollment

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Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01193842